Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Pamplin College of Business Distance MBA

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At A Glance

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Pamplin College of Business Distance MBA

Virginia Tech’s nationally ranked Pamplin College of Business offers undergraduate and graduate programs in accounting and information systems, business information technology, economics, finance, hospitality and tourism management, management, and marketing. The college emphasizes leadership, technology, multicultural, and international knowledge and skills and serves business and society through the expertise of its faculty, alumni, and students. It is named in honor of two alumni: the late Robert B. Pamplin, retired chief executive of Georgia-Pacific, and businessman and philanthropist Robert B. Pamplin Jr.

Admission Requirements

Admission Information

Pamplin does not have an admissions quota, but instead selects students who will "enhance the classroom environment." While each of Pamplin's MBA programs have different requirements, all students must submit two letters of recommendation and a resume, and some may be asked to interview. Not all programs require previous work experience, but an app...Pamplin does not have an admissions quota, but instead selects students who will "enhance the classroom environment." While each of Pamplin's MBA programs have different requirements, all students must submit two letters of recommendation and a resume, and some may be asked to interview. Not all programs require previous work experience, but an applicant's professional background is certainly considered when relevant. Last year's entering class had an average GMAT score of 624 and an average undergraduate GPA of 3.46. International students whose primary language is not English must take the TOEFL, and the admissions office is looking for students who achieve 100 on the Internet-based portion, 235 on the computer-based portion, and 600 on the paper-based portion, though it will consider students who do not reach these standards.

School Information

The following section features data representative of the entire business school, and numbers here are not necessarily reflective of the specific program.

Students and Faculty

Total Graduate Students

316

Percent International Students

48%

Total Full-Time Faculty

132

Full-Time Faculty

89%

Student Life

Virginia Tech’s various MBA programs are offered at three different campuses in Virginia, with the full-time MBA located in Blacksburg. Of the atmosphere at Blacksburg, students say it’s “a campus with heart,” and the “sense of community is very strong.” “We are passionate about serving the community,” one student says, “and you see the passion for life every day.” Students are constantly planning projects to help those in Haiti or Africa, but they also care about those closer to home. “If you miss a class,” your peers “will not only notice, but give you call to make sure you’re all right.” The “very active MBA Association” brings “professional, social, and service opportunities to the students within the MBA program.” Students “get together often for social events and spend a significant amount of the day in study groups.” The rest of the University offers a lot of activities, including clubs and sporting events. Nearly fifty percent of students at Virginia Tech are international students, and their American peers really appreciate that the program is “very ethnically diverse.” “Look around the room of a Virginia Tech MBA class,” and you’ll see “people from countries around the world, and not just in the ‘we’re trying to meet our quotas’ sense.” For the most part, everyone really “meshes,” and the small class sizes and rigorous curriculum means everyone “gets to know each other very well both inside and outside the class­room.” Students are “very outgoing and intelligent” and “competitive,” yet “down-to­earth.” There’s a lot of school pride. One student describes Virginia Tech as “one of the most highly spirited universities that I have ever experienced.” Another simply says, “my fellow students are the kind of people I hope to work with in the real world.”

Career

Virginia Tech’s MBA Career Services office does everything it can to make sure students are prepared for the job search and to land the jobs they want. The office offers person­alized career counseling, workshops, talks, and “corporate visits.” Additionally, students can participate in career fairs and mentoring programs. “The alumni network of Virginia Tech is amazing,” which means lots of chances for “networking.” Students who gradu­ated last year were hired at many prestigious companies, including Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Deloitte, Capital One Bank, Nielson, Ernst & Young, and Accenture.

Students Say

The Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Polytechnic Institute offers a number of MBA programs in an intimate atmosphere and at a reasonable cost. Virginia Tech has a full-time MBA, a part-time MBA, a Professional MBA, and an Executive MBA, though they are each at different locations. The school also offers four dual-degree programs: Masters of Industrial and Systems Engineering/MBA, Masters of Civil Engineering/MBA, Masters of Building Construction/MBA, and Masters of International Business/MBA in partnership with either the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona or Telecom Ecole de Management in France. Students in the full-time MBA program take one year of foundation classes and specialize in one of the following areas their second year: Finance, Organizational Management & Strategy, General Marketing, and Information Technology. Students can also “design a custom curriculum, which incorporates the MBA core materials and is tailored to their specific career goals.” Students are very happy with the program overall. They “love how small the classes are” because they gain tons of “hands-on learning” experience, “know all of their classmates personally,” and easily “interact with the faculty and administration.” Students say their professors are “incredibly up to date on what’s going on in the world” and make sure students understand the practical application of classroom material. “The big picture is crucial to success in class,” one student explains, “If you aren’t working on how this applies to the larger context of the professional world, you’re missing out.” Professors are “always willing to speak with students, and often the conversations are incredibly engaging beyond just the coursework. Professors also provide connections to leading business people and alumni who can offer advice, mentorship, and their own network to you.” The administration “works hard to make the program successful” and is “always willing to hear what’s going on,” including student ideas “on how we can integrate some of the latest trends into courses.” One student says that recently, “blogging and the importance of social media branding has been diversified beyond marketing into a job search course,” which was “something that came from student interest.”

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